Phileosophie

Apparently Masterchef Australia has an actual restaurant in the Sydney CBD (click here ) which by the looks of it closely resembles parts of the cooking show in terms of both layout and menu. It's all booked out for lunch and dinner though so if you haven't already made a reservation then you've missed out. It definitely looks like something I'd have loved to take my parents to (assuming I can afford the prices). While there are some contestants I really don't care for, because their personal attributes rub me the wrong way or because I do not like their cuisine, there are others like Adam and Alvin whose food I would have loved to try. Okay, fine, so I like Asian food. LoL. Anyway, I still need to figure out where to take my parents when they come by for my graduation ceremony in December. I'm thinking Sails.. for the awesome view, and perhaps Guillaume at the Opera House because well, it's at the Opera House. Maybe just the Bistro though. since...

Beautiful video and production by Giles Li & Ash Hsie. I loved it. Shared on twitter by Josh Lin. Giles Li talks about the video here .

I try to spend time outside hospital and my apartment every weekend. After all, these 3.5 months are going to fly by and I didn't come here just to do more medicine. This weekend I test-drove my new down-filled winter coat from Landsend. It kept me remarkably warm and is without a doubt the warmest coat I own. I need to find some snow boots ASAP as snow is expected any moment now and the ground will be too sludgy for normal shoes. Bouchon Bakery. This picture belongs to ulterior epicure . Gorgeous macarons. I had a chocolate hazelnut. A girl behind me said the caramel ones are awesome too. For another review of the bakery click here . This picture belongs to theadirondackchick.com.  Today I also finally had the chance to try a macaron and coffee from Bouchon Bakery in the Time Warner Building at Columbus Circle. They were very good, which isn't surprising since the bakery is owned by Thomas Keller who also owns the ultra pricey Per Se upstairs. I then met a waiter ...

Edit: This post is not in chronological order. Whoops! Lion King happened a while ago, Santacon was in the AM and Il Bastardo/UCB was in the PM. So as promised here's an update: Watched The Lion King on Broadway with the Google folks. I love visiting my friends at Google HQ. The food is great and the HQs are such fun buildings to be in. My mum and brother watched the Lion King in Sydney a few years back and seemed to love it but for some reason I always imagined it as a play with people in mascot costumes so never watched it myself. However when my friend offered to PAY me to watch it with them I thought it was an offer too good to resist! Mufasa (right) & Scar (left) in a heated disagreement. The verdict - it was enjoyable. I was particularly impressed by the young actors (Aubrey Omari Joseph & Chondra La-Tease Profit). I think it's great to see young people pursue their passions and receive amazing world-stage sort of opportunities. Unfortunately we often ...

I finally got some $$ from the bank, which is releasing my money in trickles. I can finally afford toiletries - yay. Might even be able to pick up comfortable shoes at some point. The weather was just brilliant today. After a slightly rocky start at hospital (in the midst of exam prep I had forgotten to fill out some forms) I had the rest of the day off and decided to take a walk through Central Park. While at the park, a cute little Indian toddler took a liking to me and started following me around so I struck up a conversation with her mother. Central Park in autumn (taken from http://alwayslookingoutthewindow.blogspot.com)  Anyway, I ended up at Wholefoods at the basement of Time Warner Centre where I finally found dark soy sauce. I'd almost given up hope since Gourmet Garage and Associated only carry light soy... while at the Asian food aisle, an older gentleman struck up a conversation, asking about some varieties rice he wanted to try. I subsequently found out he ha...

New York is a city that grows on you. I have been here a week now and am getting acquainted with the more interesting parts of this city. Yesterday my new friends Pierre and Reinaldo took me out for brunch at Garage in the West Village. Apparently brunch is a 'very New York thing to do'.. except that brunch in New York lasts from 11AM to 3 in the afternoon! I quite liked the place - a live jazz band played on the ground floor and for $6/- you get 2 hours worth of alcohol (Mimosas, Screwdrivers, Bloody Marys or.. in my case, OJ). The food was good as well - I had a lobster sandwich while the boys had variants of egg. We then strolled along the Hudson River which was a lovely break from all the steel and glass that makes up Manhattan. Reminded me of RK, a New Yorker I'd met in Sydney who had enthusiastically showed me on a map where he lived (facing the Hudson River). At the time I couldn't really appreciate the reasons behind his enthuasiasm.. after all, he was fac...

I went out and ran errands this morning, then came back for a 'nap' which lasted till 1130PM. Dannnggiit jetlag. You're not being cool. I am watching the Lion King at 8PM Friday which means I *should* be awake for it but at the rate I'm going.... Anyway.. I also met a cute banker today... and then he invited me to a party on Saturday. Which was nice. But then he reassured me that I didn't have to worry and he wasn't going to "hit on me" because he was gay. -_- oh well. Still over 3 months to go.. haha

Hollywood is in the business of selling dreams. They don't tell you how to get there but for a few hundred each year you can buy temporary hope which will tide you over till hopefully one day you make it.

You know, for a trip as anticipated as this one I really don’t think I have anything substantial to say… yet. The thing is, life in America isn’t as comfortable as it is elsewhere. Perhaps it is because this is New York and New York isn’t supposed to be comfortable. But I’m not really sure why tourists visit Manhattan. It doesn't seem to be a city for tourists. Maybe I am just being sombre because I'm kinda on my own here. Life tastes better when it's shared. I feel like I just haven’t really gotten my head around Manhattan yet so I’m going to give you a 1 st impressions run-down in point form. Shops – there are thousands of shops here. And clothes can be quite cheap. Yesterday I spotted a pair of walking shoes that I’ve been thinking about for ages. It would have cost maybe $70 in Australia but was only $21 here. Shopping however seems to make up most of what there is to do in Manhattan but there aren't many shopping malls... it's mostly little shops ...

I am now in the MSH library - soaking due to miserable NYC weather. This place feels really familiar but I can't place my finger on the reason for this feeling. I suppose having lived in so many countries, things are starting to confluent and overlap. I heard DrF's voice today in the next room when I was talking to his assistant. In 10 years I would like to be DrF. Or at least close to being like him. By that I mean I would like to be at the top of my game. Almost every doctor is going to make a difference in life but I think the higher you climb, the greater the impact you have. I want my life to count. Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.  Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

It's another STUNNING Sydney day in the very lucky country . Remind me again why I'm trying to get away? Seriously though, I got up this morning and realised I had run out of milk so I made my way to the little corner shop and decided, what the heck! I think I deserve a coffee too. One of the best things about travelling so much is that it makes me appreciate the day-to-day that I might otherwise have taken forgranted. To wake up every morning to the shimmering sea, and fall asleep at night to the roar of the waves - that is something I will never get used to. Living here has mellowed me because it has bombarded me with so many things to be grateful for.  Ahhh, life is good in the lucky country . (Remind me why I'm trying to leave again? )